Join Mary S. Brown Memorial-Ames United Methodist Church and the Friends of Turner Cemetery for the 10th Annual Turner Cemetery History Walk on Saturday September 29, 2018. The event is free and open to everyone.

Turner Cemetery is a historic half-acre graveyard on Beechwood Boulevard that dates back to 1785, containing the remains of early settlers of Squirrel Hill and military veterans from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War.

The event includes a presentation by Squirrel Hill historian Wayne Bossinger, self-guided cemetery tours, and historical displays. Re-enactors from the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment and the Oliver Miller Homestead will be encamped in the cemetery to demonstrate what life was like in late 1700s America. Cemetery researchers will be on hand to talk about the colorful people buried there and the turbulent times in which they lived.

WHAT: Tenth Annual Turner Cemetery History Walk

WHEN: Saturday September 29, 10:30a to 3p.

WHERE: 3424 Beechwood Boulevard in the Squirrel Hill/Greenfield area of Pittsburgh, PA

The History Walk will feature a sales table with historical books by local authors, with book signings by authors. In addition, a variety of soups and desserts will be offered for sale.

SCHEDULE:

10:30: Turner Cemetery opens for visitors. Placards will be set up in the cemetery describing its history and the people buried there.

11:00: Welcome Ceremony in the cemetery, with a bagpiper and an 8th Pennsylvanian honor guard. The door to the church meeting hall will open at this time for people to enter for the presentation.

11:30-12:30: Opening remarks by members of Mary S. Brown-Ames Church, followed by a presentation, “The People and Industries of Early Squirrel Hill,” by local historian Wayne Bossinger

11:30-3:00: Following the presentation, a bookstore will feature books by local authors. Authors will be available for book signings. In addition, a soup and dessert sale will be held.

Note: The church meeting hall is handicap accessible, but the half-acre cemetery is on an uneven grassy slope without paths. The church has a small parking lot entered from Beechwood Boulevard. Ample street parking is available along Beechwood Boulevard.

A Community Meeting Regarding the Recent Shootings in Greenfield has been set for Wednesday, August 15, at 6:30 p.m.

Thank you to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Zone 4 Commander Herrmann and Zone 4 officers for attending our meeting last night concerning the recent incidents that happened over the weekend in and around Greenfield.

The Commander gave a very detailed description of these events, which were isolated incidents for Greenfield, which is historically a low-crime area. However, he noted that there will be an increased police presence in the neighborhood for the coming future, which will include additional patrols.

We also have a date, time, and location set for a community meeting about these events.

UPDATE: 6 August 2018 at 2p. The community meeting (formerly listed as Wed 8/8) is being rescheduled. See below.

From GCA Board and Councilman O’Connor:

Dear Greenfield residents,

We wanted to clarify meetings that will be occurring in the next few weeks.

The Board of the Greenfield Community Association (GCA) and Councilman O’Connor are meeting with Pittsburgh Zone 4 Police Commander Daniel Herman tonight, Monday August 6.

At this meeting they’ll discuss the recent shootings in the neighborhood and nearby areas and select a date for a community meeting that’ll be open to the public. The meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday August 8 was the GCA’s already-scheduled Public Safety Committee meeting. In light of these recent events, that Public Safety Committee has been cancelled and will be combined with the larger community meeting, the details of which will be announced soon. As soon as a date, time and location is selected the public will be informed.

Thank you for your interest in ensuring that our community remains safe and secure.

— GCA Board and Councilman O’Connor

BACKGROUND: There were two drive-by shootings in Greenfield in two days:

Friday August 3 around 5:10pm outside the Greenfield Giant Eagle on Murray Avenue at Loretta Street.

Since 2008, the Clean Pittsburgh Commission has held an annual Meet n Greet Mixer and Bob Awards to recognize the great local neighborhood leaders who go above and beyond to make their communities a better place to live through clean-up events and litter prevention education in City neighborhoods

The awards, named for former Mayor Bob O’Connor, are given for Volunteer of Year, Neighborhood of the Year, and Leader of Year.

Greenfield was nominated for all the great stuff our volunteers have done in recent years including the Greenfield Bridge/Portal, Murals, Gardens, Clean-ups and Painting, Signage, etc.

The award was presented by our City Council Representative Corey O’Connor & Mrs. O’Connor. They gave Greenfield excellent words of praise.

This is the 2nd time Greenfield has received the Bob Award award. Good job everyone, and congratulations, Greenfield!